Drain valves and the like



" May 4, 1965 l. JACOBSON DRAIN VALVES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 20, 1962 32 um I F/gj 5 INVENTOR IRVIN D. JACOBSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,181,555 DRAIN VALVES AND THE LIKE Irvin D. Jacobson, Painesville, Ohio, assiguor to Perfection Pipe Nipple Company, Madison, Ohio, :1 corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,928 3 Claims. (Cl. 137--375) Another object of the invention is to provide a drain valve of the character described which is provided with means enabling the valve to be supported by said tubular member, in the event that the valve is inadvertently completely unscrewed from said tubular member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve member of the character described, which is made or molded in a single piece, of plastic or like material, having corrosion-resistant and electrical-resistant proper- 'ties, whereby electrolytic action, incident to the use of the valve in connection with hot water tanks, is virtually eliminated.

, Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a valve embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the valve; FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed a tubular member in the form of a lined nipple or tube assembly consisting of a metallic tube 1, and a tubular liner 2 of plastic material extending through the tube 1 and having an external diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of the tube 1, the tube 1 and tubular liner 2 being interlocked with each other by a corrugation 3 on the tube and a corrugation 4 on the tubular liner 2, the corrugation 3 being tightly nested in the corrugation 4. This construction of lined nipple or tube assembly may be made in the manner described in my copending application, Serial No. 172,942, filed February 13, 1962, for Lined Nipple Assembly for Hot Water Tanks, now Patent No. 3,093,163.

The lined nipple or tube assembly, as thus described, provides an inclined annular seat or shoulder 5 for a purpose to be presently described, and it may be further noted, at this point, that the lower end of the tube 1 is provided with threads 6, also for a purpose to be presently described.

The invention further comprises a drain valve member, generally designated by reference numeral 7, and preferably made or molded in a single piece, from a plastic such, for example, as polypropylene.

The valve member 7 comprises a body portion 8 having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, radially-extending, arms 9, which provide a handle for rotating the valve 3,181 ,555 Patented May 4, 1965 member, 21 depending exteriorly-threaded hollow annular portion 10, adapted for connection to a hose or the like, and an upstanding annular collar 11, which is interiorly threaded, as at 12, for connection to the threads 6.

The valve member further includes an upstanding central sltem which consists of three distinct portions 13, 14 and 5.

The portion 13 orbase portion of the stem is of hollow annular conformation, having an external diameter such that when the valve member 7 is secured to the lined nipple or tube assembly in the manner shown in the drawings, the outer wall of the portion 13 will slidably engage the inner wall of the plastic liner 2, and form a leak-proof seal between the outer wall of the portion 13 and the inner wall of the liner 2.

The portion 14 of the stem is also of hollow annular formation, but is of slightly smaller external diameter than is the inner wall of the liner 2, whereby an annular space 16 is at all times provided between the outer wall of the portion 14 and the inner wall of the liner 2. The portion 14 of the stem is also provided with circumferentially-spaced ports or openings 17, which are adapted to communicate the space 16 with the interior 18 of the stem portion 14.

The upper end of the portion 14 of the stem is in the form substantially of a conical shoulder 19 which, in the use of the valve, is adapted to seat against the shoulder 5 of the lined nipple or tubeassembly.

The portion 15 of the stem is disposed above the portion 14, and is of circular shape, having an outer wall 20 which is of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the corrugation 4. The portion 15 of the stem is cylindrical, is provided with an imperforate bottom or base 21, and the wall thereof is provided at diametrically-opposite sides with recesses 22 and 23, which extend to points adjacent the bot-tom 21, whereby to divide the portion 15 of the stem into two parts 24 and 25 which have a slight degree of resiliency relatively to each other, so that they may be pressed toward each other slightly by pressure applie dto same in a radially-inward direction, but recover their original position when such pressure is relieved. The parts 24 and 25 are also provided, at points spaced degrees from the recesses 22 and 23, with ears 26 and 27, which extend substantially to the inner wall of the liner 2, and serve a purpose to be presently described.

In assembling the valve member, which has been described, with the lined nipple or tube assembly, the stem of the valve is introduced into the lined tube or nipple assembly at the bottom, and is threadedly secured to the latter in the manner shown in FIG. 1. In the course of this assembly, the parts 24 and 25, during passage past the corrugation 4, and due to their inherent resiliency, are biased by said corrugation toward each other sufficiently to permit the passage of the parts past said corrugation, and the shoulder 19 of the valve stem is forced against the seat 5, thereby closing the valve.

In this position of the value, water inside the nipple or tube assembly cannot flow past the seat 5 and shoulder 19. Due to the plastic character of the seat 5 and shoulder 19, a seal is very effectively maintained by the mere act of screwing the valve member onto the lined nipple or tube assembly, the resiliency of the parts being such that a seal is maintained irrespective of irregularities in the seating surfaces, arising from slight errors in manufacture.

When the valve is to be opened, the valve member 7 is rotated in a direction to withdraw the shoulder 19 from the seat 5, thus permitting water from inside the nipple or tube assembly to pass through the space between the shoulder 19 and seat 5, and into the annular space 16,

h n e thr u h t ie s.,qt n s a t t te ',v 18 of the stem portionv '13;for discharge into acontainer.

It may be noted, at thispoint, that even iflthe valve member should be inadvertentlycompletely unscrewed from the threadsf6, the ears-26 and 27 will engage the :ferred example of e, and that variouschanges maybe made in the. shape, size andarrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the .spirit'of the inven :tion or the scope of the subjoined claims.

corrugation 4, and thus prevent complete disengagement r of the valve member from the nipple ortubeassembly, the corrugation supporting the, valve member in this manlne'r'until it can be again screwedto the threads .6..

7 .a metallic tube and a tubular liner of plasticmaterial extending through saidztube and interlocked with saidtube j by corrugations on the tubeand liner, the corrugation 'on the tube or nipple assembly, when it.-is';des'ired to'clean the inside of the hot water tank, or other container or vessel,in connectionwith which the valve is used, it being understood that the valve is highly adaptable for 'many purposes other than as a drain valve for hot water tanks.

In this connection, it may be noted-that thepassage;

Having thus described my invention, Lclaim: i

1. 'In combination withatubularmember consisting of the tube being" nested in, the corrugation on the liner, and the corrugationon the 'liner forming an annular projection which extends internally of -the'liner and provides a valve seating surfaceand a drainvalvemember. supporting surrace, a 'drainvalve member of plastic'materialremovably secured 'to said tubular member and having 1 an annular surface adapted to engag e "said seating surface'when the valve is closed, said yalv lr'nember being threadedly secured to said tubular member an'dhaving circumferen- 'tially-spacedears formed integrally with said valve memway through the lined ,nipple,'after removal of the valve 7, is large enough topermit insertionbf a cleaning tool, without damage to the valve seat 5; This isfparticular'ly important: in connection with hot water heaters, which have heretofore been virtually impossible to clean .out. I

An important advantage of using a plastic material for the valve member 7 is that it conducts very little heat, and thus may be grasped and-manipulated to ,open the valve or remove the valve, withoutdanger to the individual who is 'grasping or manipulating itfIiTheireedompfrom :heat conductivity is furthefienhanced by reason of the V fact that the liner Zis also of plastic-material;

Another advantage of using a plastic material for the vvalve'mernber .7 isthat it'radiates'yery little heat, and is .thus of value in connectionr 'with hotgwa ter heaters, pa ticularly electrically-heated heaters, which have a low rate of heat recovery. The valve member, in other words, eliminates an-farea of the tank which normally radiates a considerable amount of heat. to the atmosphere;

her and adapted to'fengage said second-named surface whereby said second-named surface supports said valve member in the event said valve member'is inadvertently unscrewed entirely from said tubular member, said ears 7 having a resiliency such that they can be forced toward eachother by said 'annulai projection to permit passage of saidearsfpast' said projection when said valve memher, is assembledwith said tubularmember and when said valve member is to beremoved entirely fromtsaidfltubular member. 7

2. The combination, as set forthiniclaiml, in which said metallic tube is externally threaded .at its lower end, and said valve member is .provi de'dwith a threaded portion secured'to 's'aid'thread'ed end. v r 3. Thegcombination, as set forth .in claim 2, in which 'said .valve member, comprises a hollow stem portion spaced from the. inner wallof said liner, and. having a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports communicating Although the valve, memberhas been described as made 7 of a plastic material, it may, under certain conditions, be

made in wholeror in part, 01a metal, such as a die-cast metal. In suchfcas'es, some ofithe advantages of a wholly-fplastic valve memberarelostgbut others are retained, in-

tic liner 2. V

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a precluding theability to form a leak-proof seal'withthe fplassaid space with he interiorofzsaid'stem portion. 5

References Cited by the Examiner I UNlTED srATEs ATENTs 7/06 1Stebbins V 137-53317 1,423,418 7/22 Grikscheit 251-446 7 2,309,430 1/43 Albert 137-223 2,571,32710 51 Agudo 251-351 2,856,952 :10/58 Stillwagon 137- 375 XR 2,985,180 8 '5/61 Grayson 251-375 XR 3,026,899 3/62 Mischanski 251 -3.68 XR WILLIAM; F. ODEA, Primary Examiner, ,ISADOR WELL, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A TUBULAR MEMBER CONSISTING OF A METALLIC TUBE AND A TUBULAR LINER OF PLASTIC MATERIAL EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TUBE AND INTERLOCKED WITH SAID TUBE BY CORRUGATIONS ON THE TUBE AND LINER, THE CORRUGATION ON THE TUBE BEING NESTED IN THE CORRUGATION ON THE LINER, AND THE CORRUGATION ON THE LINER FORMING AN ANNULAR PROJECTION WHICH EXTENDS INTERNALLY OF THE LINER AND PROVIDES A VALVE SEATING SURFACE AND A DRAIN VALVE MEMBER SUPPORTING SURFACE, A DRAIN VALVE MEMBER OF PLASTIC MATERIAL REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING AN ANNULAR SURFACE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SEATING SURFACE WHEN THE VALVE IS CLOSED, SAID VALVE MEMBER BEING THREADEDLY SECURED TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-SPACED EARS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID VALVE MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SECOND-NAMED SURFACE WHEREBY SAID SECOND-NAMED SURFACE SUPPORTS AND VALVE MEMBER IN THE EVENT SAID VALVE MEMBER IS INADVERTENTLY UNSCREWED ENTIRELY FROM SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID EARS HAVING A RESILIENCY SUCH THAT THEY CAN BE FORCED TOWARD EACH OTHER BY SAID ANNULAR PROJECTION TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF SAID EARS PAST SAID PROJECTION WHEN SAID VALVE MEMBER IS ASSEMBLED WITH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND WHEN SAID VALVE MEMBER IS TO BE REMOVED ENTIRELY FROM SAID TUBULAR MEMBER. 